Amid disengagement, Army Chief visits Ladakh

With both India and China moving back troops from Patrol Point 15 (PP 15) as part of the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Army Chief General Manoj Pande is on a visit to Ladakh where he will review the prevailing security situation and meet top military commanders.

Gen Pande reached Ladakh on Saturday and witnessed an operational preparedness exercise - Parvat Prahar (mountain strike) - being undertaken by local Army formations. This is the third major exercise conducted by the Army in Ladakh in the past few months.

"The Army Chief will be briefed on operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation by commanders on the ground," officials said.


He is also visiting forward locations on the LAC and will take stock of the ongoing disengagement process.

Ex Parvat Prahar is being undertaken ahead of the winter season that makes access to remote areas on the border a difficult task.

In late August, the Army conducted Ex Red Hunt in Ladakh, which was reviewed by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi.

The exercise demonstrated lethality and mobility of newly inducted weapons and equipment in the area.

In June, the Army conducted Ex Blitzkrieg in Ladakh which included demonstration of the fast attack capabilities of newly inducted all-terrain vehicles.

The Army Chief's visit comes a day after both India and China announced that troops are moving back from the PP 15 flashpoint and that the process would be completed by September 12.